Alarm device



Feb. 4, 1930. J. A. MCELROY ALARM DEVICE Filed May 7, 1928 11v VENTOR JOSEPH A. M L'LROK Patented Feta 4, 1936 umrso sures JOSEPH a MQELRQY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ALARM DEVICE Application filed may 7,

This invention relates to devices responsive to a variation in the condition of fluid within a conduit or the like It has particular reference to an automatic alarm for sprinkler. systerns whereby a signal is given upon movement of the flre extinguishing fluid, as, for instance, when it is caused to flow through the pipes upon the opening of a sprinkler head or a leak in the system.

Heretofore, such alarm devices have taken the form of a valve included in the sprinkler system and adapted to be opened upon the flow of fluid therein. The opening of the valve permitted the divergence of fluid to an I alarm actuating device which aflorded an in dication of the change in the condition of the fluid in the system. The present invention seeks to provide means for aflordingf the necessary alarm upon a variation in the condition of fluid in the the extinguishing system without recourse to valve mechanism. To this end suitable alarm devices are adapted tovbe actuated by a diaphragm disposed in a chamber separate from the conduit for the fire extinguishing fluid and communicating therewith by means of spaced ports directed in opposed relation in the conduit, More particularly, the chamber and connections are substantially of the same cross sectional area and the ports open into the axis of the conduit, the opposite side of l the diaphragm being subjected, at all times,

I to the static pressure of the fluid in the conduit, preferably by a pipe leading from the periphery of the conduit to said opposite side of the diaphragm.

It is also an object of the invention toprovide an indicating device of extreme sensibiltampered with. Ontheother hand, it is also ity so as to aflord'an indication or alarm when the prescribed position of a control valve, such as is common in sprinkler systems, has been altered, that is, when the valve has been an object of the invention to provide an indieating device which is not susceptible to the 1928, Serial Noe 275,582lu more apparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings illustrating one em.- bodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view showing, in detail, the alarm device for sprinkler systems, in accordance with this in= vention.

Figure 2 is a plan view taken in the plane indicated by the line 22-in view 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the devices for initiating indications of a vara= tion in the condition of the fluid in the system, the cover of the device being removed.

Figurefi is a view showing, somewhat schematically, the alarm device and the contacts and circuit whereby an indication may be atforded. V

This application is a continuation in part of U. S. S N. 718,227 filed June 6, 1924..

While the invention has been illustrated and will be described as applied to a sprinkler system for the extinguishment of tires, it will be apparent, as the description proceeds, that it is applicable in any situation in which variations in the condition of a fluid in a conduit are to be indicated at one or more points either adj acent to or remote from the system.

In the usual sprinkler systems a riser 11 is adapted to conduct fire extinguishing fluid to a pluralityof branches 12 provided with sprinkler heads 13. In the riser there has heretofore been inserted an alarm valve adapted to eflect an indication of when the sprinkler heads are in operation or in other words to cause a fire alarm to be sounded. Such alarm valves have heretofore been of the clapper type wherein the fire extinguishing fluid is diverted to alarm initiating devices upon the opening of the valve, which opening has been eflected by the flow of fluid in the riser. Valves of this nature have been found objectionable in that they are complicated, comprise moving parts, continually get out of OrderNand are subject-to actuation to give an alarm when, for instance, a valve in the street is opened or closed; In

consequence they gave many false alarms.

In accordance with this invention an alarm I psi device isprovided which has practically no moving parts and which is susceptible to the slightest variation in the condition of the fluid in the fire extinguishing system but is I not susceptible to conditions outside of the the riser 11, is preferably formed with a pair of spaced apertures 16, 17 in the wall or periphery thereof for the reception of the.

alarm actuating 'instrumentality according to this invention. In the illustrated embodiment, an inverted, ,generally U-shaped chamber 18, 19, 24 is provided whereof the respective branches 18 and 19 are adapted to enter the conduit 11 through the apertures 16 and 17, respectively, formed therein. The branches 18, 19 are conveniently formed with flanges 20 by which the chamber is secured in position by means of the screws 21 which draw the flanges 20 to seats 22 formed on the conduit 10, suitable gaskets 23 being interposed to seal the openings, as will be understood. To facilitate the insertion of the branches 18 and 19, one of the openings, say 16, may be of an increased diameter to permit the passage of the curved end of branch 18.

In the preferred embodiment, the branches 18 and 19 extend to the axis of the conduit 10 and the connecting portion, which will hereafter be referred to as the chamber 24, together with the two branches are of substantially'the same interior diameter or cross-sectional area and are of substantially the same length. They thus form an inverted U-shaped chamber defined by the three sides of a square. The structure 18, 19, 24 may be reenforced by a web 25. The branch 18 is open, as at 26, at

its lower end and is curved to face the direction of flow of the fireextinguishing fluid in the system, asindicated by the arrow 27. The center of the opening-26 preferably lies in the axis of the conduit 10. The other branch 19 is closed at its end and, in the sidewall thereof, there is formed a small opening 28, very much smaller than the opening 26- and facing in the direction of flow ofthe fire extinguishing fluid as shown by the arrow 27.

As an example of one specific embodiment by which the'invention may be realized, it may be considered that the riser 11 is a pipe of 6" in diameter. The U-shaped chamber 18,

' 19, 24 may then be formed of pipe- A" in diameter, while the distance from center to center between the branches 18 and 19. may be" 9 and the distance from the axis of the chamber 24 to the axis'of'the openings 26 and- 28 and hence to the axis of the conduit 10 also may e 9". The mouth 26 is, of course, also flaring to form a supplemental chamber 34 defined by the conical walls 35. Obviously, the supplemental chamber 34 may'take any convenient form, it being intended that the diaphragm33 be acted upon by the pressure of the fluid in the chamber 24. I

The flaring walls 35 terminate in aflange 38 upon which the diaphragm 33 rests and against which it is clamped by the flanges 39 of a casing 40 forming a diaphragm chamber or static pressure chamber 41. V This casing 40 is tapped, as at 42, to receive a pipe 43 communicating with the inner periphery of the conduit 10. As illustrated, the hole 44 for the pipe 43 is tapped inthe conduit 10 in the same longitudinally extending vertical plane which includes the openings 16 and 17, but it will be obvious, since its object is to maintain the static pressure of the conduit 10 in the chamber 41, that the hole 44 may be tapped anywhere in the conduit 10, the only requirementbeing that the pipe 43 shall open into the conduit 10 at its inner periphery.

In the top 46 of the static pressure chamber 40, inwardly thereof, is a seat 47 and,

axially of the chamber, the top 46 is formed with'an aperture 48 through which passes a plunger 49. This plunger 49 is freely reciprocable in the aperture 48 but its upward movement is limited by the stop or flange 50 which 'it carries. At its lower end, the plung-' er 49 is secured to the midpoint of the diaphragm so that as the diaphragm is depressed or elevated the rod 49 is similarlymoved. To prevent the fluid in the chamber 41 from leaking through the passage 48, a boot or bellows 51 surrounds the plunger 49 and is secured at its upper end to a disc or washer 52 which is secured as by ascrew to the seat 47 It will be readily apparent that the chamber 29 and branches 18 and 19 will all be filled withffire-extinguishing fluid when the-riser the static pressure of. the fluid in the system,-

as will be obvious. The pressure in the chamber 34, however, is reduced, it is believed, due to a siphoning action of the fluid in the branch 19 through the opening 28. This reduction 3 in pressure may readily be measured by a gauge mounted in'the threaded hole 54 which is illustrated as closed by ,a plug and is apparent by a depression of the diaphragm '33 and consequent lowering of the plunger 49.

The downward movementof plunger 49 is utilized to sheet the operation of alarm giving devices.

Upon the top 46 of the chamber is a support 57 of insulating material of a diameter A carried with a bar 64 while the other conductor may be electrically connected with a bracket 64- having ears 65 between which a shaft 66 is extended. On this shaft 66 are mounted a pair of leaf contacts 67, 68 norma ly held out of engagement with the con tacts 62, as respectively by a coil spring 69.

The plunger a9 is provided with insulation 72 at its upper end and contacts with an adjusting screw 73 carried by the contact 67 so that when the diaphragm is not depressed and the plunger is in its upper position it will hold the contacts 62, 67 apart and no signal will be given. When, however, the diaphragin is depressed as the result of a change in the condition of the fluid in the conduit 10, and the plunger 49 is drawn downwardly, the

'spring 69 will cause the contacts 67 and 82 to close and initiate an alarm by the ringing of the bell B included in the circuit 60, 81.

Leaf contact 68 carries an arm or block of insulating material 74 which is normally maintained by a rib 75 on the removable cover in such position that the contacts 68 and 83 are separated. H, however, any one attempts to tamper with the device and 're-= moves the cover the release of the arm l5 permite the contacts to close and ring bell B, as will be understood This alarm device is extremely sensitive to changes in the condition of the fire extinguishing "fluid in the system. Thus, when the usual outside screw and yoke valve, required onall sprinkler systems, is tampered with, the change in the condition of the fluid in the system caused by the movement of the valve is suficient to cause this device to initiate an alarm. @n the other hand, the operation of other outlets in -the water system on the street sideyof .the alarm device, such as the opening or closing of a fire hydrant outside of the building containing the fire extinguishing system willnot afiect the device nor cause it to give an alarm. I I

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the relation and configuration of the component elementsgoing to make u the invention as a whole and no limitation 1s intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings except as, indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is v 1. A device for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions of fluid in a sprinkler system having a conduit for the fluid, comprising a chamber having an opening in one wall thereof. a diaphragm across the opening having means adapted to actuate an alarm giving device when the diaphragm is deflected towards the inside of the chamber, a housing enclosing the opposite side of the diaphragm, spaced iluid conductors between the chamber and the-conduit and extending to the axis thereof, the end of one of saidconductors being open and turned to face away from the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit, the end of the other conductor beingclosed and said conductor being formed adjacent the end with an orifice of materially less diameter than the said one conductor and facing in the direction of flow of the fluid in the conduit, and a fluid conductor extending from the housing to the fluid adjacent the wall of the conduit.

2. in a device for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions or fluid in a sprinkler system, in combination, a conduit for the fluid ofiering free flow thereto, a chamber having an opening in one wall thereof, a diaphragm across the opening and having means adapted to actuate an alarm giving device, upon movement or the diaphragm, tow-and the inside of the chamber, a housing enclosing the diaphragm on the side opposite to the'chamber, spaced fluid conductors between the chamber and the conduit and extending thereinto, the end of one of said conductors being open and lying substantially in the axisoi the conduit and being turned to face awayfrom the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit,the end of the other conductor being olosed and said conductor being formed in the anisoi the conduit and adjacent the end thereof with an orifice of materially less diameter than: the said one conductor and facing in theldirection of ilow of the fluid in the conduit, and a fluid conductor extending frointhe hoiisin'g to the fluid at the inner periphery of the conduit.

3., A'dcvice for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions of rluid in a sprinkler system having a conduit for the. fluid, comprising a chamber having an open ing in one wall thereof, a diaphragm across the opening and having means adapted to actuate an alarm giving device, a housing enclosing, the opposite side of the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is deflected towards the inside of the'chambenspaced fluid conducthan the conductor and facing in the direction of flow of the fluid in the conduit, and a fluid conductor extending from the housing to the fluid at the inner periphery of the conduit.

4. A device for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions of fluid in a sprinkler system having a conduit for the fluid, comprising a chamber having an opening in'one wall thereof, a diaphragm across the opening having means adapted to actuate an alarm giving device when the diaphragm is deflected towards the inside of the chamber, a housing enclosing the opposite side of the diaphragm, spaced fluid conductors between the chamber and the conduit and extending to the axis thereof, said chamber and conductors being of equal volumetric capacity, the end of one of said conductors being open and turned to face away from the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit, the end of the other conductor being closed and said conductor being formed adjacent the end with an orifice of materially less diameter than the conductor and facing in the direction of flow of the fluid in the conduit, and a fluid conductor extending from the housing to the fluid adjacent the wall of the condu t.

5. A device for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions of fluid in a sprinkler system having a conduit for the fluid, comprising a chamber having an opening in one'wall thereof, a diaphra in across the opening and having means a apted to actuate an alarm giving device upon the movement of the diaphragm towards the inside ofthe chamber, a housing enclosing the opposite side of the diaphragm, spaced fluid conductors of the same cross-sectionalarea as the chamber between the chamber and the being closed and said eonductor being formed in the axis of the conduit and adjacent the end thereof with an orifice of mater-ally less diameter than the conductor and facing in the directionof flow of the fluid in the conduit, the distance between the axis of the chamber and the axis of the conduit being equal to the distance between the axis of the conductors,

and a third fluid conductor extending from the housing to the fluidat the inner periphery of the conduit. 7

6. In adevice forindicating changes hetween static and kinetic conditions of fluid, the combination with a conduit of constant cross-sectional area for the fluid, of a chamber, a fluid conducting means between one end of the chamber and the interior of the conduit, the end of the fluid conducting means within the conduit being open and facing awa from the direction of flow of fluid in the con uit, a second fluid conducting means havin a restricted passage relatively to the first fluid conducting means between the other end of the chamber and the interior of the conduit, the end within'the conduit of the second fluid conducting means being open and facing in the direction of the flow of the fluid in the conduit, and pressure means responsive to the difference in pressure in the chamber and in the conduit.

7. In a device for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions of fluid, the combination with a conduit-of a constant cross-sectional area for the fluid, of a chamber, fluid conducting means between spaced portions of the chamber and the conduit, one of said fluid conducting means having an open end turned to face-away from the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit, the other of said fluid conducting means having its endclosed but having an orifice of materially less diameter than the conductor and facing in the direction of flow of the fluid in the conduit, and a pressure means responsive to the difference in pressure in the chamber and-in the conduit.

8. In a device for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditionsof fluid in a sprinkler system, in combination, a conduit' for the fluid offering free flow thereto, a chamber having an opening in one wall thereof, a diaphragm across the opening and having means adapted to actuate an alarm giving device upon movement of the diaphragm towards the inside of the chamber, a housing enclosing the diaphragm on the side opposite to the chamber, spaced fluid conductors between'the chamber and the conduit and extending thereinto, the. end of one of said conductors being open 'and lying'substantially in the axis of the conduit and being turned to face away from the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit, the end of the other conductor being closed and said conductor being formed in the axis of the conduit and adjacent the end thereof with an orifice of materially lessdiameter than the said one conductor and facing in the direction of flow of the fluid in the conduit, and means to ap ply pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm equivalent to the static pressure of" the fluid in theconduitQ 9. In ande'vi'ce for indicating changes between static and kinetic conditions of fluid,

the combination with a conduit-of, constant cross sectional area for the fluid, of a chamber, fluid conducting means betweenspaced portions of the chamber and the conduit, one of said fluid conducting means having a mouth turned to face away from the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit, the other of said fluid conducting means having a mouth directed in the direction of flow of fluid in the conduit, the distance from the axis of the chamber to the open ends of said fluid conducting means being equal to the distance between the axes of the respective fluid conducting means, and a pressure means responsive to the difference in pressure in the chamber and in the conduit.

10. In a device for indicating changes hetween static and kinetic conditions of fluid, the combination with a conduit of constant cross-sectional area for the fluid, of a chamher, a fluid conducting. means between one end of the chamber and the interior of the conduit, a second fluid conducting means having a restricted passage relative to the first fluid conducting means between the other end of the chamber and the interior of the conduit, the wall of the chamber being formed with an opening in axial alignment with the second fluid conducting means, and means movable towards the inside of the chamber and responsive to the difierence in pressurebetween the chamber and the conduit, and susceptible to the fluid in the chamber through the. opening In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. JOSEPH A. MGELROY.

cnniintenie 0h eeeene'nen'.

Petent No. 1,745,859. Granted February 4, teen, to

JQSEPH A. neeinei.

it is hereby certified thnt-en'nr appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requit ing correction as iniiowsz- Page 3, line 97, claim 2, iorfthe word "er" read "of": same page, line 127, claim 3, niter'the word v and ore the insert the words "when the dinphregm is deflected towards the inside of the chamber", and Hines 129 and 1%, same clnim, strike out the words and comma "when the diaphragm is defleetedtnwnrds the inside of the ehamher,"; and that the said Letters Patent shonid he need with these cerreetions therein that the same may conform 'tn the resend nf the cnse in the Patent @itice.

Signed and sealed this llth'dey'ni March, A. B. 193%.

p I Fig. 5 hieeneg (fieni) Acting Gnissiener oi Patents. 

